STUBBORN rearguard action by Stuart Adlam and Jake Capper earned Congleton a hard-fought draw at Cholmondley on Saturday.

Congleton put themselves in with a good chance of victory after dismissing their seventh-placed opponents for 168.

However they shot themselves in the foot to crash out to 70 for seven in reply, and held out only thanks to some excellent defensive batting.

Congleton ended on 140 for nine, to earn eight points to 13 for Cholmondley, leaving them eighth in the 12-team league with four games left.

Cholmondley were in trouble at 37 for three, but recovered to 97 for four and 146 for six.

Andy Umpleby was Congleton's best bowler, claiming three for 36, ahead of two for 42 for Jim Hartshorn.

There was a wicket each for Adlam and Capper, at a cost of 13 and 24 runs respectively, and two run outs.

Congleton were soon under the cosh after being reduced to 15 for two, Adrian Dale going for 10 and Umpleby for a duck.

They recovered thanks to a partnership from Andy Bayley and Rowan Kitton, who took the score to 45 before Kitton was out 14.

Congleton skipper Paul Mitchell, in at number seven, top scored with 30, ahead of 25 not out from Adlam, 24 from Bayley, 14 for Kitton and 13 not out from Jake Capper.

"The Cholmondley target was achievable, although we were looking to restrict them to about 150,'' said Congleton chairman Mike Kitton.

"However we suffered another middle order batting collapse, and Stuart Adlam and Jake Capper had to play out the last nine or 10 overs to earn a draw.

"At 70 for seven we were deep in trouble, of our own making, but from then we kept our heads and showed a lot of character, and Stuart and Jake showed some real bottle.

"We have tried changing things round in the middle order because of the batting collapses, but whatever we do it doesn't seem to make any difference.

"We have drawn a lot of games we should have won easily, and we're hoping to achieve as high a league position as we can in the last four games.''

Congleton 2nd X1 remain top after beating Cholmondley at home on Saturday.

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